Appalachian Counselor Beliefs of Clients Diagnosed With Opioid Use Disorder

Date of Conferral

11-9-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Corinne Bridges

Abstract

The Appalachian region has been disproportionally impacted by the opioid epidemic, but there is little scholarly inquiry that has examined the perspectives of counselors who work in Appalachia with persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD). If more was known about how Appalachian counselors perceive their clients with OUD, it could result in more effective counselor training programs and improve treatment outcomes for this population. The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry was to describe the lived experiences of counselors in Appalachia who work with clients diagnosed with OUD. Participants included seven Appalachian counselors who worked with clients who struggled with OUD. Seven counselors who work with clients with OUD were administered semi structured interviews. Giorgi’s process of a descriptive phenomenological approach was used to analyze the data. Four major themes and subthemes arose from the data: (a) disparities and a lack of resources for Appalachian clients with OUD, (b) stigma about OUD and stigma about Appalachia, (c) lack of education and training on Appalachia, and (d) the overlap of co-occurring disorders with OUD. The results of this study suggest more geographical and cultural focus is needed to prepare counselors to work with Appalachians with OUD. Study results could help inform counselor training programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and support treatment programs in the region of Appalachia.

This item is not available through Walden resources

Share

 
COinS